Free comics offered Saturday in Erie, nationwide

Comic book fans Selena, left, and her husband Tony Lewondowski brought their daughter Nevaeh, turning one on Sunday, to Books Galore for Free Comic Book Day in Millcreek Township on May 4. Selena, 33, and Tony, 30, said they'd been comic-book fans since they were children and wanted to pass that along to Nevaeh, heaven spelled backwards. GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Stacks of comic books flew out of Erie's Books Galore faster than Barry Allen can throw on his bright red Flash spandex -- or at least it seemed like it.

About a thousand people came through the small Millcreek Township shop Saturday to collect at least one free comic, manager Marge Phillips said. She said it's hard to tally how many comics are given out, since some people get more than one.

During the busiest points, dozens of people stood in a line stretching through the store, past the entrance on Peach Street and around the building to the parking lot off West 56th Street.

Phillips said the store, which sells comics and used books, doesn't see a big jump in its bottom line during the event, held each year on the first Saturday of May, in part because it is too crowded for much browsing. But she said it gives the store, its employees and everyone else a chance to celebrate comics.

"We're hoping that people who don't know how fun comics can be will check them out," Phillips said. "And it's a great way to get kids into reading."

The event has been celebrated across the country since 2002, and Books Galore was one of two stores in the area -- along with Above & Beyond Comics at 1126 W. 26th St. -- to hand out free comics Saturday. National organizers estimate about 5 million comics were given away for free.

This year's selections featured popular heroes like Superman and Batman, massive franchises like Star Wars, cult favorites like the Walking Dead and several offerings from smaller publishers.

Among those waiting in line were Jon Cox and his three children, each wearing a costume of one of their favorite fictional characters: Connor, 8, as Indiana Jones; Grant, 5, as Ben Tennyson from Cartoon Network's "Ben 10" cartoons; and 2-year-old Lily, as Izzy from Disney's "Jake and the Neverland Pirates."

Cox said he brings his children to Free Comic Book Day each year, but this is the family's first in Erie after moving from Cincinnati.

"As long as this line is, I don't know what's going to be left," Cox said while waiting outside the store. "But we'll probably get Walking Dead, and Connor will get the DC Nation comic."

The Cox children were far from the only ones dressed up for the event. Dressed-up volunteers -- including Wonder Woman, Thor and a couple Jedi Knights -- dotted the sidewalk along Peach, waving at motorists, and musician Matt Boland preformed outside for those in line.

Volunteers Dennis Acosta, 30, dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, and Tom Zdrojewski, 27, dressed as the Flash, said they helped out at the event to share their love of comics.

"We've been doing this about five years," Acosta said. "The kids enjoy it. It's fun to see so many of them starting out young with comics and getting into reading."

Susan Hilbrich's 4-year-old great-niece, Samantha, and great-nephew, Tristen, were among those young readers who picked up their first comics Saturday. Samantha got a Disney Tinker Bell comic and Tristen had Batman.

"They don't read just yet," Hilbrich said. "But they like the pictures. I'll read them to them later."

Assistant manager Doug Phillips said getting young readers into comics is one of the big joys of the day.

"It's just about making people happy," he said. "The little kids love it. The adults love it. Their satisfaction comes first and foremost."